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Message: <blockquote data-quote="topkollek" data-source="post: 31214239" data-attributes="member: 510150">අමු ගොන් ගොබෙල්ස්ලා සෙට් එකක් ඉන්නෙ The most recent and relevant new legislation presented to the Sri Lankan Parliament concerning tenant evictions is tied to the Protection of Occupants Bill and the accompanying Rent (Repeal) Bill.These were presented in Parliament on January 20, 2026, by the Minister of Justice and National Integration. (Note: Some related discussions and business occurred earlier, such as in December 2025, but the formal presentation for debate/approval appears to align with the January 2026 parliamentary sitting.)Key Details<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Rent (Repeal) Bill: This seeks to fully repeal the old Rent Act, No. 7 of 1972, which had long provided strong protections for tenants (including restrictions on evictions, rent controls, and grounds for ejection). The old Act was seen as outdated, impacting the housing market, property transactions, and making it difficult for landlords to recover premises.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Protection of Occupants Bill: This is the new replacement law aimed at balancing rights between landlords and tenants/occupants after the Rent Act's repeal. Its primary purpose is to prevent landlords from unlawfully ejecting persons from occupied premises. Key provisions include:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Making it unlawful for landlords to evict occupants in violation of lease agreement terms and conditions.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Protecting occupants who have been in the premises for extended periods (e.g., references to occupation exceeding three months in related discussions).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Empowering tenants to take action (such as initiating contempt of court proceedings) against landlords who violate court orders or eviction rules.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Overall, it aims for fairer protections for both parties, preventing arbitrary evictions while addressing long-standing landlord complaints about recovery difficulties under the old system.</li> </ul></li> </ul>This package follows earlier Cabinet approvals (dating back to 2023–2024) to repeal the Rent Act and introduce balanced protections. The bills were gazetted in September 2025 (e.g., Rent Repeal and Protection of Occupants drafts available via government documents).Context and Status<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The old Rent Act heavily favored tenants, making evictions challenging except on specific grounds (e.g., rent arrears, misuse of premises).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Earlier reforms like the Recovery of Possession of Premises Given on Lease Act No. 1 of 2023 (Lease Act) already streamlined some eviction processes for newer leases (e.g., allowing direct court approaches after breach notices).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">These 2025–2026 bills represent a broader overhaul to modernize tenancy laws, repeal outdated controls, and introduce protections against unlawful evictions.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">As of late January 2026, a news report highlighted how the new legislation empowers tenants to charge landlords with contempt for violations, reinforcing anti-eviction safeguards.</li> </ul>For the full text or latest status (e.g., whether passed into law), check official sources like the Parliament of Sri Lanka website (parliament.lk) or Government Gazette (documents.gov.lk). Note that parliamentary proceedings are ongoing, and no indication these have been fully enacted yet as of the current date. If you're referring to a specific recent event or need more details, feel free to provide additional context!</blockquote>

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